Alaskans, what are your opinions

[Blue_In_AK]

regarding these two quotes I've found on the internet?

This one on Ethan Berkowitz's site http://www.ethanberkowitz.com/press/ethan-in-the-news/in-alaska-palin-overshadows-democratic-efforts-to-oust-sen-stevens-and-rep-young-2

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s addition to the GOP presidential ticket has turned all eyes to her state, but being overshadowed are Democratic attempts to retire two veteran Republican lawmakers.

…

Berkowitz’s camp said it would not be surprised if Palin endorses Berkowitz over Young.

“If you listen to what McCain says on the campaign trail, he always goes back to her having fought corruption in the Alaska Republican Party,” Shurtleff said. “That’s talking about Ted Stevens and Don Young.”

Shurtleff added that he cannot see Palin supporting Young, and said that she has had a good professional relationship with Berkowitz, an endorsement of whom, Shurtleff said, would underscore her maverick reputation.


And this quote from Julie Hasquet on the ADN website http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/535062.html:

With the presidential race very tight, Alaska Democrats aren't expecting Obama to visit Alaska -- a prospect raised in July. Julie Hasquet, spokeswoman for Democratic Senate candidate Mark Begich, said it wasn't realistic to expect a visit.

"Initially yeah, we thought might see him," Hasquet said. "But when your governor is running for vice president, it makes it more difficult for the opposing candidate to do well in that state."

She even suggested Palin's popularity might help Begich topple GOP Sen. Ted Stevens, who is on trial in federal court in Washington on charges that he lied about more than $250,000 in home repairs and other gifts he received from an oil contractor.

"We think that if people are voting for Sarah Palin because she's a reformer, anti-corruption, against the good-old-boys network, then people should be voting for Mark Begich," Hasquet said. "He's known as an independent leader."


????

These almost sound like endorsements of Sarah Palin, or at least as if our two nominees are sucking up to her. I think this is kind of dangerous as her popularity is falling. Can't they see the writing on the wall?

[liberalaska]

1. They are definitely sucking up

As much as her star is falling, I think she'd be a valuable ally in a close race up here right now. I would also love it if either / both Begich and Berkowitz would come out against her. I think it would help shatter that maverick myth. I can appreciate the position they are in though. They don't want to alienate her base a lot of whom probably will be filling in the circle for a Dem in at least one of those 2 races. Maybe they won't cross over in huge numbers, but if the Young/Parnell race is any indication you don't want to risk pissing anyone off at this point.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. You're probably right.

It's just so frustrating that progressives are always having to compromise their principles to get anywhere - especially in this state.

[Witchy_Dem]

3. Out here in the valley Palin Fever is big.

Company signs, bumper stickers, hand painted or computer printed rah rah signs on cars are big. She's not falling out here...yet.

Dunno about the quotes. I figure they're riding the Palin wave until it hits shore.